TN DOC – Morgan County Correctional Complex (MCCX)

TN DOC – Morgan County Correctional Complex (MCCX) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 423-346-1300

This facility is for adult inmates.

The inmates housed at Morgan County Correctional located at 541 Wayne Cotton Morgan Dr
in Wartburg, TN are placed according to their custody level (determined by a number of factors including the past criminal history and the length of their sentence). There are ample educational and vocational training programs for all inmates, especially ones that show a willingness to learn new things that will prepare them for a better life when they are released. The mission is to promote and prepare the offender to leave in better shape than when they arrived, giving them the best chance to never come back and thus lower the state's recidivism rate.

Morgan County Correctional Complex is a mixed custody state prison that houses medium and maximum security adult male inmates with a current capacity of 2,441 offenders. Maximum security inmates are housed in a separate unit from the medium custody inmates Inmates can receive substance abuse treatment and pre-release programming while at here. Inmates can also participate in work detail that provides community services such as cleaning roads and highways in the surrounding areas. All offenders are provided medical and dental treatment during their incarceration, and can also participate in educational classes to earn a GED.

visitation Info

TN DOC – Morgan County Correctional Complex – Visitation 

Visiting hours: 

• Saturday, Sunday and designated holidays (see below).
• 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

Thursday evening 

• 6:30  p.m. – 8:30  p.m. (by appointment only)

Visits are limited to a minimum of two hours. On high volume visitation days where space becomes an issue, visits may be terminated on a first-come, first-to-leave basis; exceptions will be made for visitors who have traveled over 200 miles and who visit infrequently.

Thursday evening visitation is limited to visitors who are unable to come on the weekend and must be scheduled no later than 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday.  Verification must be provided as to why you cannot visit on weekends, i.e., under a doctor’s care, have to work both Saturday and Sunday, etc.

The following state holidays will be designated visiting days: New Years’ Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. (Visitation on additional days accompanying Thanksgiving and Christmas Day will be determined by the Commissioner.)

All visitors must register upon entering the institution at the checkpoint. Visitors must sign in to the visitor logbook. (License plate number will be required.)

All visitors and vehicles are subject to search. Refusal to submit to any type of search shall be sufficient grounds to deny a visit and may result in the suspension of visitation privileges. Visitors are responsible for making sure their vehicles are locked and secured. Drug K-9’s may be used during vehicle searches.

Any visitor found to have in their possession drugs, alcohol or weapons may be permanently prohibited from visiting at any TDOC facility. Visitors having prescription drugs on state property must have the drugs in the prescription bottle or have a copy of the prescription with them.

MORGAN COUNTY CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX IS A TOBACCO-FREE FACILITY.

A person legally authorized to possess a firearm may transport and safely store a firearm or ammunition in a locked motor vehicle or locked container securely attached to the vehicle while on or utilizing the designated facility parking area. The firearm/ammunition shall be kept out of ordinary observation. Introduction of contraband or failure to secure your authorized firearm(s)/ammunition could cause your visiting privileges to be suspended.

All visitors, regardless of age, must show current and valid identification before they will be permitted to visit. All identifications, for persons 16 and older, must be a state government-issued photo ID and must be current. Exceptions for no photo on a state ID will be made for senior citizens only.

Acceptable identification includes:
A current driver’s license
A government or military ID
Birth certificate and/or marriage license (for minors and/or proof of relationship only. Cannot be used in place of valid photo id.)
School identification cards (minors only, a birth certificate will still be required).

Social security cards or expired driver’s license are not considered acceptable identification.

All visitors, regardless of age, must have an approved Visitation Application (CR-2152) with a current photo and any necessary documentation (notary form, birth certificate, marriage license, etc.) on file before they can be admitted into the visitation area. It can take up to 30 days for an application to be processed.

All sections of the CR-2152 shall be completed. A driver’s license number or state ID number is required.) If any falsification of the visitation form occurs by a visitor applicant, the visitor applicant shall not be allowed to resubmit a visitor application (CR-2152) for a minimum of six months.

Approval of visitors shall be at the Warden’s discretion, in accordance with the following guidelines:
 
All immediate family members who apply and eight (8) additional adults may be approved to visit an inmate upon receipt of a Visitor Application (CR-2152). Classification inmates and Maximum Security inmate may visit with immediate family only.

Four adults plus children are permitted to visit an inmate at one time.

All applications must be updated every two years with current photo and any necessary documentation. When a visitor comes to visit and it is discovered that his/her application is over two years old, they will be informed that they have 30 days to update their application or their visits will be denied.

Visitors may not be placed on more than one inmate’s visiting list unless immediate family.

Any visitor who has visited and who has been taken off the visiting list of an inmate at any institution shall be required to wait one (1) year before being processed to visit another inmate. The Warden may make an exception only if the inmate is immediate family.

Inmates who are punitive, pending investigation (PI), or protective services investigation (PSI) will not be allowed to visit.

Inmates placed on transit status will only be allowed visitation after two (2) weeks and may only be visited by immediate family; these visits will be non-contact.

Inmates who are assigned to Classification (whether they have been re-classed or not) will only be allowed visits by immediate family. They will be conducted in the Classification visiting area and will be limited to one hour.

Inmates classified as close security and housed in the max unit will have non-contact visits.

Inmates classified as maximum security will visit via video visitation for one hour. Snacks and drinks are not permitted in the video visitation room. Due to the lack of space, only two adults plus children will be permitted to visit at one time. Only immediate family members are permitted to visit.

Any person the Warden determines could have  a harmful influence on the inmate and/or may constitute a threat to the security of the institution shall not be approved for visitation.

Visitors with prior felony convictions – Only immediate family members may submit a visitor application for approval six (6) months following release from incarceration or placement on probation, community corrections or parole supervision. (A written consent of supervising officer/counselor is required.)

Current or former employees of TDOC, TRICOR, or contract agencies (in Tennessee), interns and practicum students shall not be approved unless they are immediate family members of the inmate.

If the person’s separation from TDOC service was due to a violation of state law, e.g., trafficking in contraband whether or not prosecution occurred, visitation requests will not be considered, even if the employee has become an immediate family member.

If the person’s separation from TDOC service was the result of a violation of Policy#305.03, Employee/Offender Relationships, visitation requests will not be considered, even if the employee has become an immediate family member.

If a person’s separation from TDOC service was voluntary and not due to the events as described above, the individual may submit an application for consideration after 48 months from the date of TDOC separation.

If a person’s separation from TDOC service was completely voluntary with no policy violation and the person is currently married to the inmate, visitation requests shall not be considered for a period of 12 months from the date of marriage to the inmate, or for a period of 48 months from the date of TDOC separation.    If the former employee worked at the facility where visitation would occur visitation will not be allowed.

Former TDOC employees, on a visitation list as of October 1998, shall be allowed to remain on the list.

Immediate family: Mother, father, husband, wife, son, daughter, grandchildren, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, halfsiblings, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law,  brother-in-law,  mother-in-law, father-in-law, and step-parents.

Legal Guardian:  A person appointed by the court to provide partial or full supervision, protection, and assistance of the minor child, as evidenced by a certified copy of a court order.

ALL VISITING APPLICANTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO A NCIC (National Crime Information Center) CHECK.

Visitors at this facility will be frisk-searched before being allowed admittance into the visiting area. All items in their possession shall also be searched. Visitors may be randomly searched or searched for probable cause at any time during their visit.

All searches shall be in compliance with TDOC Policy #506.06.

• All visitors shall dress in an appropriate manner.
• Shoes are required for entrance and shall be worn throughout visiting period by all visitors. Flip flops of any style, shower shoes, house slippers, sock shoes, moccasins and steel-toed shoes are not permitted. (Allowances can be made for infants and those with valid medical conditions; a doctor’s note may be required.)
• Halter tops and tank tops are not allowed.
• Sleeveless shirts (sleeve must be 4”) and sundresses are not allowed (allowances may be made for children under the age of 10.)
• Zip-down shirts, zip-down skirts or dresses, button-down dresses or skirts, wrap-around skirts are not permitted.
• Clothing exposing a bare chest or midriff is not allowed.
• Clothing that is transparent or translucent in nature is not allowed.
• No camouflage attire. (Fabric or a garment dyed in splotches of green, brown, tan, and/or black, so as to make the wearer indistinguishable from the surrounding environment.)
• Shorts, skirts and dresses may be worn but can be no shorter than 3 inches about the knee. Any slits in a dress and/or skirt regardless of location cannot exceed three inches above the knee.
• Visitors may not wear excessive clothes such as two pairs of pants or an extra shirt under their top layer of clothes.
• No spandex or clothing made of spandex material. No hip huggers or low riders will be allowed.  No coveralls will be allowed.
• Clothing must fit properly. No skin-tight clothing or clothing that is worn too small in size. No overly baggy clothing or clothing that is too large in size.
• Visitors MUST wear underwear. Slips are required when dresses or skirts are worn. No thongs or water bras will be allowed. White undershirts may only be worn as an undergarment.
• Worn or tattered clothes with holes will not be allowed.
• No bandanas, do-rags, or stocking caps will be permitted.
• Arts and craft items will not be allowed (this includes jewelry).
• Clothes with logos that contain pictures, slogans, or vulgarity, or contain signs or symbols of a Security Threat Group (STG) or any clothing determined by the processing officer to be associated with any STG will not be allowed.    The association may be made by color combination, designs, or logos affixed to the clothing, or the manner in which the clothing is worn.
• No uniforms or medical scrubs are permitted.
• Clothing must be worn appropriately throughout the visit or the visit may be terminated.

If a visitor is wearing an adult diaper or feminine hygiene product, it must be changed in the presence of visitation staff. (Allowances can be made for those with valid medical conditions; a doctor’s note may be required.)

Personal  property shall  be restricted to the following:

• Entrance ID
• One car key (to allow admittance back into your vehicle).
• Debitek card (purchased at the checkpoint and used to purchase items from a vending machine; see below for further instructions).
• No sunglasses will be permitted unless prescribed by a doctor.
• Prosthesis, artificial limbs (plastic or other substances), and cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators shall be allowed. (Visitor may be required to present doctor’s note and are subject to search/inspection.)
• Crutches, wheelchairs, and walkers shall be allowed. (Visitor may be required to present doctor’s note and are subject to search/inspection.)
• Pagers must have prior approval by the Warden. Pagers must be worn in a conspicuous place and must be in silent/vibrate mode during visits.  Visitors will be required to open the battery compartment during the search prior to entering the institution and again upon exiting the institution.
• Jackets may be worn. Gloves, mittens, scarves, leg warmers, muffs, and snow pants are not allowed past checkpoint and must be left in the vehicle.

Debitek cards can be purchased at the checkpoint. To purchase a card you must| use a $5 bill ($2.00 for the cost of the card and the remaining $3.00 is placed on the card’s balance). Once you have purchased your card you can place up to a $50 balance on it; for this the machine will take $1, $5,
$10, or $20 bills. TDOC is not responsible for any lost or stolen Debitek Cards. Any reimbursement of money must be requested through the vendor. (Forms are available through Visitation staff.) Inmates who visit non-contact will not be permitted to have food or drinks from the vending machines. 

Restrooms are provided at the checkpoint, inside the Visitation Gallery, and outside Visitation area (when open) for visitors to use.    Visitors   may   not   use   restrooms identified as “Inmate Only.”   — Any visitor who uses the bathroom at the checkpoint must do so before they are searched.  Visitors may be randomly searched or searched for probable cause at any time during their visit.

Visitors with an infant may bring the following into the visitation area:

• Two (2) diapers
• Baby wipes in clear plastic container
• One (1) clear plastic baby feeding bottle
• Powder baby formula in clear plastic bag, not to exceed amount for 2 feedings

A visitor’s access to the Visitation Gallery is through the checkpoint. If a visitor leaves the visiting area for any reason, the visit will be considered terminated for that day.

Any visitor may be denied entry into the visiting area for any reason including but not limited to:

Refusing or unable to show proper identification.
Refusing to submit to a search.
Appearing to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Possession of contraband.
Inappropriate dress.
Displaying of Security Threat Group(STG/gang-related) symbols or affiliation.

Visits may be terminated by the visitation supervisor; however, less restrictive measures may be used, such as warning the inmate and/or the visitor(s) or placing inmate and/or visitor in an assigned seat(s). Examples of reasons for warnings or termination of visits include, but are not limited to:
Inmates or visitors who violate visitation conduct rules.
Failure by visitors to control their children.
Visitor and inmate  engage in unacceptable physical contact. (see #18)

Visiting privileges may be suspended for up to six (6) months by the Warden if:
Upon reviewing a denial/termination, he/she feels it is warranted.
During the visit, it becomes apparent that the visitor and/or inmate have become intoxicated.
Visitor and/or inmate repeatedly violate visiting rules.
Visitor continually fails to control children.
Visitor will not, after a verbal warning, refrain from unacceptable physical contact.
Visitor refuses a frisk-search (or strip search if with good cause).

Physical contact shall be restricted to a brief embrace and kiss at the beginning and end of each visit. Inmates and visitors shall not engage in undue physical contact, i.e., caressing, kissing, lap-sitting, entwining of the legs, etc. Open-mouth kissing is not allowed. Holding hands during a visit is permissible.

Trash cans are provided throughout the visitation gallery. It is the responsibility of the visitor and/or inmates to clean up their own trash. Visitors shall not be allowed to deliver packages, correspondence, money orders, checks or printed material to inmates. All such items must be mailed. Inmates will not be allowed to send anything out of the visiting area with visitors unless pre-approved written permission must be presented to the checkpoint officer when leaving visitation.

Inmates shall be responsible for ensuring that their visit is conducted in an orderly manner in compliance with the rules and regulations set forth by the Tennessee Department of Corrections and the institution. Failure to follow visitation rules may result in disciplinary action, suspension of visiting privileges or both.
 
OUTSIDE VISITATION – The outside visitation gallery is open to population inmates only. Classification, Close, Maximum Security or inmates on non-contact or restricted visitation will not be allowed in the outside visiting area. The outside visiting area will only be available to inmates who have not received a Class A or B disciplinary conviction for a period of ninety days or a Class C conviction for a period of thirty (30) days.
Inmates may visit in the outside visiting area both Saturday and Sunday during April 1st through October 1st as long as space is available. Outside visitation is not open for Wednesday night visitation. Drinks and chips can be purchased from the visitation vending machines and may not be brought in by visitors.
Inmates and visitors are not allowed to be close (touch/linger) to the fence. The institution retains the right to close the outside visitation area as deemed appropriate by the Shift Supervisor due to weather, staff shortages, emergencies, etc.

Failure to follow rules can result in the loss of outside privileges. This area has been established as a privilege for inmates and visitors. Morgan County Corrections asks that everyone cooperate and comply with procedures. All items entering the institution will be searched at the checkpoint.